Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE INKY, DINKY SPIDER CRAWLED UP THE WATER SPOUT (HAND
CRAWLS UP OPPOSITE ARM), DOWN CAME THE RAIN AND WASHED
THE SPIDER OUT (WAVE FINGERS THROUGH THE AIR), UP CAME
THE SUN AND DRIED UP ALL THE RAIN (LIFT UP ARMS), AND
THE INKY, DINKY SPIDER CRAWLED UP THE SPOUT AGAIN (HAND
CRAWLS UP ARM AGAIN).
Submitter comment: THIS RHYME WAS SAID TO HER MANY TIMES BY HER MOTHER.
Where learned: CANADA ; QUEBEC ; MONTREAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED WAITING IN LINE--LIKE ME.
Submitter comment: FOUND 125 FEET UP IN THIS MONUMENT.
Where learned: CANADA ; NIAGARA FALLS ; QUEENSTON HEIGHTS PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)
LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
MY DAD USED TO ALWAYS GIVE HIM ADVICE ABOUT SCHOOL AND
SPORTS. HE TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY IF FOR SOME REASON I
GOT IN A FIGHT AND LOST. HE SAID THE MAN WHO WAS
NEVER BEATEN WAS PROBABLY NEVER IN A FIGHT. I THINK
HE'S RIGHT.
Where learned: CANADA ; MONTREAL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: YEARS AGO
WEATHER BELIEF
AS A YOUNG BOY IN CANADA I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY MY MOTHER THAT I SHOULD NEVER KILL A SPIDER. SHE SAID IF I KILLED A SPIDER IT WOULD RAIN ALL DAY, AND SPOIL MY FUN.
Submitter comment:
I GUESS SHE JUST DIDN'T LIKE ME TO KILL SPIDERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this many years ago.
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CANADA ; MONTREAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO
WEATHER BELIEF
AS A YOUNG BOY IN CANADA, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY MY MOTHER,
THAT I SHOULD NEVER KILL A SPIDER. SHE SAID THAT IF I DID
IT WOULD RAIN ALL DAY, AND SPOIL MY FUN.
Submitter comment:
I GUESS SHE JUST DIDN:T LIKE ME TO KILL SPIDERS.
Where learned: CANADA ; MONTREAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO
TO CURE A WART, CUT A POTATO IN HALF AND RUB ONE HALF ON THE
WART. AT MIDNIGHT THAT NIGHT, BURY BOTH PARTS OF THE POTATO.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD FRENCH CURE WHICH HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN IN
QUEBEC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; CANADA ; QUEBEC
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER PLUGGING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-19-1970
DEATHS IN THREE'S
UKRAINIANS BELIEVE WHEN A DEATH OCCURS, TWO MORE WILL
FOLLOW SHORTLY AFTER. DEATH SEEMS TO OCCUR IN A CYCLE
OF THREE.
Where learned: CANADA ; ALBERTA ; EDMONTON
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001940S
You can't play any form of cards because the devil is hidden
in cards.
Submitter comment:
This is a superstition her grandfather told her and he was a
strict Christian of the Trinity College. Her other
grandfather who was not of the strict Christian background
taught them to play everything from solitaire to poker.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
Prior to 1951, at weddings they used fruitcake for a wedding
cake and wrapped pieces in cellophane, then wrapped in a
a doily. The couple then visited each individual guest and
gave them a piece of cake with a note that said thank you for
sharing in this joyous occasion or something to that effect.
Submitter comment:
The informant did not know if this was still practiced, but at
the last wedding she attended they did not do this.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
Keyword(s): GIFT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1951
Whatever door you enter from that is the same door you must
exit through so you don't leave any bad luck behind.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
Don't begin anything on a Friday because it will never be
finished.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
Never say goodbye, it is too final.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
Dorothy's mom taught her how to crochet Christmas ornaments.
First, they crochet the ornaments and then put them into sugar
water to hold a desired shape. Then they put a ribbon on
the top of the ornament and hang it on the Christmas Tree.
The process of crocheting take hours to complete a beautiful
ornament.
Submitter comment: The material that is crocheted is thin yarn.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
Dorothy's mom taught her how to make Ukrainian Easter
Eggs many years ago. First, they put a hole on each
end of the egg and blow the contents out. They then
put beeswax on the egg carving out only the areas
they want to be dyed a certain color. They continue
this process until the egg has been dipped into every
color they want until the egg is completed.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
AT THE WIDE SPOT IN THE RIVER, MAKOKABATAN, A YOUNG
INDIAN BRAVE, DROWNED. WHILE HE WAS PADDLING DOWN
THE RIVER, A FAR OFF VOICE SEEMED TO BE CALLING
HIM. AFTER TALKING WITH THE VOICES, HE FOUND HIM-
SELF IN THE RIVER. THE GODS HAD DECIDED THAT THE
BOY WAS TO STAY WITH THE RIVER AND GUARD ALL
TRAVELERS FROM THE PERILS OF THE WATER.
Submitter comment:
I WAS FISHING ON THIS RIVER ONE NIGHT, BY MY-
SELF, WHEN I THOUGHT I HEARD A VOICE CALLING
MY NAME. WHEN I CAME BACK TO CAMP, SAMMY ASKED ME
IF I HAD FUN, I TOLD HIM THAT THE WIND TALKED.
THIS IS WHEN HE TOLD ME THE LEGEND. HE SAID THAT
THE BOY GETS LONELY, AS ANYONE WOULD, SO HE
TALKS TO THE RIVER TRAVELERS.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
A FAMILY BY THE NAME OF BAKER LIVED IN BUCKINGHAM,
QUEBEC ABOUT 45 TO 50 YEARS AGO. THEIR SON HAD BEEN
TAKEN SICK WITH SCARLET FEVER, BUT THE DOCTOR SAID
THAT HE WAS RECOVERING. ONE DAY, DURING THE ILLNESS,
MRS. BAKER WAS IN HER BACKYARD WHEN SHE SAW A FALLING
STAR. IT LANDED BY HER WATERPUMP. SHE TOOK THIS AS
A SIGN OF DEATH. SHE RAN INTO THE HOUSE AND WITHIN
TEN MINUTES HER SON DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANADA ; DETROIT ; BUCKINGHAM ; QUEBEC
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Star PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial body come to earth |
Date learned: 03-22-1972 ; 00-00-1922
A FAMILY BY THE NAME OF BAKER LIVED IN BUCKINGHAM,
QUEBEC ABOUT 45 TO 50 YEARS AGO. THEIR SON HAD BEEN
TAKEN SICK WITH SCARLET FEVER, BUT THE DOCTOR SAID
THAT HE WAS RECOVERING. ONE DAY, DURING THE ILLNESS,
MRS. BAKER WAS IN HER BACKYARD WHEN SHE SAW A FALLING
STAR. IT LANDED BY HER WATERPUMP. SHE TOOK THIS AS
A SIGN OF DEATH. SHE RAN INTO THE HOUSE AND WITHIN
TEN MINUTES HER SON DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANADA ; DETROIT ; BUCKINGHAM ; QUEBEC
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Star PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial body come to earth |
Date learned: 03-22-1972 ; 00-00-1922
CROWN IN THE CAKE
IN FRANCE ON CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25TH, A FAMILY WILL
GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A HUGE FEAST. AFTER DINNER, A LARGE
CAKE IS BROUGHT OUT. THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE WILL CUT THE
CAKE VERY CAREFULLY. SOMEWHERE IN THE CAKE, THERE IS A SMALL
CROWN, THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR. THE ONE WHO GETS THE
CROWN IS KING OR QUEEN FOR THE DAY. HE OR SHE GETS ANYTHING
THEY DESIRE, AND ALL THEIR WISHES MUST BE OBEYED. THIS IS ONLY
FOR THAT DAY.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER SPOKE OF THIS TRADITION WITH A SMILE.
IT IS A FADING TRADITION IN FRANCE. SHE REMEMBERS IT
FROM HER EARLIEST CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: CANADA ; COLLECTED IN ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. |
Date learned: 00-00-1926
COUNTING OUT
IP, DIP, DIP,
MY LITTLE SHIP,
SAILING ON THE WATER
LIKE A CUP AND SAUCER,
BUT YOU ARE NOT ON IT.
THE PERSON WHOSE FOOT IS CHOSEN IS NOT IT. THE LAST
PERSON LEFT IS IT.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; OAKVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN